10 Ways to Strengthen Subrogation and Recover More, Faster

July 8, 2025 / 3 min read

Auto insurance subrogation often feels like a slow, complex journey toward recovering funds. The good news? Your path can be smoother and more efficient.

Strengthening your subrogation efforts goes beyond simply recovering more money. It’s about maximizing operational efficiency, reducing friction, and delivering better outcomes for insurers and policyholders alike.

auto claim

The secret lies in making strategic adjustments at every step of the process. Through improved communication, advanced technology, and refined workflows, even small changes can yield significant results. Here are ten practical ways to strengthen your subrogation process and help your team recover funds faster and more effectively.

1. Identify subrogation potential early
Train adjusters to identify subrogation opportunities early in the claims process. Prompt identification helps preserve evidence and improves recovery chances.

2. Investigate liability thoroughly
Conduct detailed investigations to determine fault clearly. Inaccurate liability assessments are a common cause of missed subrogation opportunities. What are the venue’s liability laws? Is there any nuanced case law in that state to consider (e.g., Mockler Defense) that can affect liability?

3. Send initial demand letters and follow-ups promptly
Include all documentation, such as repair invoices and proof of payment, to support the recovery claim.

4. Secure and preserve evidence
Collect police reports, witness statements, dashcam footage, photos of the accident scene, and vehicle damage. Preserving physical evidence is key for proving liability in many scenarios.

5. Use analytics effectively
Data that can streamline processes should be integrated into workflows. Companies should always identify high-impact claims as they arrive to ensure that established procedures and protocols are working effectively for these claim types.

6. Streamline internal interdepartmental communication
Ensure strong collaboration between claims, legal, and subrogation units. Poor handoffs and miscommunication can delay or derail recovery efforts. Establish a clear system for coordination and stick to it. Regularly review and refine your processes but maintain operational discipline even during catastrophic events.

7. Adopt effective negotiation and settlement strategies
Train subrogation specialists in negotiation tactics and alternative dispute resolution to maximize recovery without litigation. Recognize creative thinking that has worked in unique scenarios.

8. Prepare for arbitration
Be prepared to promptly file arbitration when necessary, with experienced and well-versed contention drafters who understand the applicable law and case precedents for the jurisdiction where the loss occurred.

9. Have a specific plan to handle chipping-only claims
Chipping incidents need their own handling protocol. Ensure all claim handlers are familiar with this process.

10. Train and educate continually
Deliver regular training for staff on subrogation laws, procedures, best practices, and trends. This ongoing education can enhance performance, build team commitment, and help ensure compliance.

Always consider the expertise of outside vendors when you are contracting them to work on files for you.

Maximizing recovery and efficiency

Although subrogation plays a crucial role in auto claims processing, it’s underutilized by many organizations. By implementing these ten strategies, your team can recover more funds, shorten cycle times, and boost overall efficiency. The right combination of tools, team collaboration, and streamlined processes can help you maximize every subrogation opportunity.

Rather than treating subrogation as an afterthought, position it as a strategic advantage that directly improves your organization’s financial performance. When done well, effective subrogation practices deliver far-reaching benefits—from your bottom line to faster claim resolutions for customers.

Ready to optimize your auto claims process? Explore how Verisk’s Claims Coverage Identifier can help you unlock your subrogation potential.

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The Road to Recovery: 10 Ways to Strengthen Subrogation in Auto Claims

Maximizing recovery and efficiency